Can The St John's Wort Herb Help ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Sufferers?

Before I begin...I am a Post Viral FatigueNOTE ------Having said that, one of the most
Syndrome / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferercommon side effects of St John's Wort is fatigue,
myself but I am not medically trained! I amwhich is obviously relevant when you suffer from
merely passing on to you, things I have read andME/CFS! So if you do try St John's Wort, keep an
learnt which may interest you. I am not a 'healtheye on your energy levels. If they plummet even
expert', so please - if you come across anythingfurther, it may be a sign to rethink whether you
in this article that you find interesting, do a littleshould be taking it or not.What's more, St John's
research on it yourself and contact your doctorWort **has** been found to interfere with some
or health professional about it before taking anyprescription medicines. Studies published in the
advice from this article.Depression, anxiety andLancet and the British Medical Journal have shown
sleep disorders can all be symptoms of MEthat St John's Wort speeds up the breakdown of
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Whereas some MEmedicines in the body, leading to lower levels of
CFS sufferers may never experience depressionthe drugs in the blood. So if you're taking other
and anxiety as symptoms of their ME/CFS,medication or supplements of any kind, that's
others unfortunately do.For example, according toanother factor for you and your doctor to
Dr Shepherd in his book 'Living With ME', trueconsider before taking St Johns Wort.------ SIDE
clinical depression probably affects betweenNOTE ------
25-33% of ME/CFS sufferers at someThere are other side effects and dangers of St
stage.Many ME/CFS sufferers are prescribedJohns Wort. You can find out more about some
antidepressants to help them sleep and to easeof these on this page: SIDE NOTE ------As with
their fatigue (even if they are not depressed). Buttaking any new substance for the first time, the
although prescribed antidepressants do helpbest thing you can do is to approach St Johns
**some** ME/CFS sufferers, others find thatWort with caution.In essence, you should **not**
they experience bad side-effects.St Johns Worttake St John's Wort until you have checked with
(also known as Hypericum perforatum) is anyour doctor that it is safe to do so. It's also often
interesting natural alternative to prescriptionadvised to start slowly with a low
antidepressants.Many medics seem to say that itdosage.Although sometimes it gets remarkable
has far fewer side effects, yet it apparentlyresults, sometimes St John's Wort does nothing. It
works just as effectively as common SSRIreally is down to the individual. But research
antidepressants such as Prozac, Paxil/Seroxat andsuggests that you do need to take St John's
Zoloft. In fact, according to Dr Charles ShepherdWort for a number of weeks in order for it to
in his book 'Living With M.E.' (mentioned above), Stwork.Bottom line?Always, ALWAYS check with
John's Wort seems to have a lower incidence ofyour doctor first before taking St Johns Wort.
side effects (around 20%) - much lower than thatAnd if you do decide to take it, keep an eye on
seen with conventional antidepressant drugsyour energy levels. If your fatigue worsens
(around 60%).----- SIDE NOTE ------noticeably, then just be aware that it might be
For more information about the 'darker side' ofthe St Johns Wort that's causing it.And if you do
SSRI antidepressants visit: SIDE NOTE ------With adecide to try St Johns Wort, remember that
2,400 year history of safe and effective use, theresearch shows that you need to take St Johns
use of St Johns Wort has risen dramaticallyWort for a few weeks in order for it to start
recently, especially in Britain. And in Germany,working.-----Copyright, Claire Williams, 2003-2005.
they apparently use St Johns Wort a lot to treatAll Rights Reserved.-------** Publication Guidelines
depression, anxiety and sleep disorders, all of**The article above may be freely reproduced
which, as mentioned earlier, can be symptoms ofprovided that:(1) you only mail to a 100% opt-in
ME/CFS.St John's Wort has both anti-viral andlist; (2) ALL links areLIVE hyperlinks (3) the article
anti-depressive properties and has been used byis published in its entiretyincluding the title,
Europeans for centuries as a remedy for:- sleepcopyright notice, & the author'sbio & resource
- depressionbox (which must be placed directly belowthe
- anxietyarticle).-----Claire Williams is editor of sleepydust.net
- PMSand has suffered from Post Viral Fatigue
- menstrual crampsSyndrome since 1995.She created sleepydust.net
- menopausal stressto help ME / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and
- irritabilityFibromyalgia sufferers deal with their condition -
- neuralgiafrom handling their money worries, to recovering
- tension------ SIDE NOTE ------from their illness.
To find out how St Johns Wort works visit: SIDE